Complete Works of Cicero Quotes

“Whether it is a natural instinct or a mere illusion, I can’t say; but one’s emotions are more strongly aroused by seeing the places that tradition records to have been the favourite resort of men of note in former days, than by hearing about their deeds or reading their writings. My own feelings at the present moment are a case in point. I am reminded of Plato, the first philosopher, so we are told, that made a practice of holding discussions in this place;”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero, Complete Works of Cicero

“It is not merriment and wantonness, nor laughter or jesting, the comrade of frivolity, that make men happy; those are happy, often in sadness, whose wills are strong and true.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero, Complete Works of Cicero

“he grew old learning many a fresh lesson every day.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero, Complete Works of Cicero

“being asked by Criton how he would be buried, “I have taken a great deal of pains,” saith he, “my friends, to no purpose, for I have not convinced our Criton that I shall fly from hence, and leave no part of me behind. Notwithstanding, Criton, if you can overtake me, wheresoever you get hold of me, bury me as you please: but”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero, Complete Works of Cicero

“The process, indeed, of nature is this: that just in the same manner as our birth was the beginning of things with us, so death will be the end; and as we were noways concerned with anything before we were born, so neither shall we be after we are dead. And”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero, Complete Works of Cicero

“Did not he, then, who, if he had died at that time, would have died in all his glory, owe all the great and terrible misfortunes into which he subsequently fell to the prolongation of his life at that time?”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero, Complete Works of Cicero

“For the whole life of a philosopher is, as the same philosopher says, a meditation on death.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero, Complete Works of Cicero

“Epicurus however is a more troublesome opponent, because he is a combination of two different sorts of pleasure, and because besides himself and his friends there have been so many later champions of his theory, which somehow or other enlists the support of that least competent but most powerful adherent, the general public.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero, Complete Works of Cicero

“it is by no means surprising that though we are first commended to Wisdom by the primary natural instincts, afterwards Wisdom itself becomes dearer to us than are the instincts from which we came to her.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero, Complete Works of Cicero

“for my own part I cannot cordially approve, I merely tolerate, a philosopher who talks of setting bounds to the desires. Is it possible for desire to be kept within bounds? It ought to be destroyed, uprooted altogether.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero, Complete Works of Cicero

“ait enim declinare atomum sine causa; quo nihil turpius physico, quam fieri quicquam sine causa dicere, — et”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero, Complete Works of Cicero

“De litterarum missione sine causa abs te accusor.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero, Complete Works of Cicero

“Te multum amamus, quod ea abs te diligenter parvoque curata sunt.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero, Complete Works of Cicero

“Tuo adventu nobis opus est maturo; nam prorsus summa hominum est opinio tuos familiares nobiles homines adversarios honori nostro fore.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero, Complete Works of Cicero

“Abs te tam diu nihil litterarum!”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero, Complete Works of Cicero

“Verum hoc ridiculum est de magistro.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero, Complete Works of Cicero

“Nega me ei iratum fore, si ad mea comitia non venerit. Atque haec huius modi sunt.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero, Complete Works of Cicero

“haec est adhuc informata cogitatio.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero, Complete Works of Cicero

“Sed hoc praeter me nemini videtur.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero, Complete Works of Cicero

“Puto te in hoc aut risisse aut ingemuisse.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero, Complete Works of Cicero